Box, package, and wrapper



March 8, 1955 G. w. SCRIMSHAW 2,703,645

BOX, PACKAGE, AND WRAPPER Filed April 1. 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm 650.765 l4. dce/ms/m'n Worm:

March 8, 1955 G. w. SCRIMSHAW BOX, PACKAGE, AND WRAPPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1, 1948 FIG. 5

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United States Patent BOX, PACKAGE, AND WRAPPER George W. Scrimshaw, San Antonio, Tex.

Application April 1, 1948, Serial No. 18,387

9 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The present invention concerns a box and/or package and a wrapper therefor.

It is an object of the invention to provide a less than carload lot unit of a plurality of standard individual cases or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a wrapper whereby a plurality of individual case lot packages such as cartons of canned fruit or the like may be handled as a unit. These units are of such size that they com pletely fill the floor space of a box car. That is, allowing for necessary clearance, the ratio of the floor area of a standard box car to the floor area occupied by the invention is substantially a whole number. Of course these units are also used when the entire car load is shipped to a single consignee.

It is an object of the invention to conserve shipping s ace.

lt is an object of the invention to eliminate the need of shipping pallets and their. return. to the shipper.

It is an object of the invention to provide a unitary package of relatively large weight and size with a few inexpensive materials.

It is an object of the invention to provide a wrapper for heavy articles to facilitate handling in bulk.

It is an object of the invention to provide a wrapper and method of use which employsthe weight of the package as a means to make the wrapper effective as a load bearing monocoque structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide a box for bulk handling and shipping of loose articles.

It has long been customary in the shipping and handling of large orders of case lots of canned or bottled goods to assemble the individual boxes or cases on a wooden pallet which is a platform raised three or four inches from the floor by two cross membersor skids. The arm of a lift fork is run under the pallet between the cross-members and the whole lifted and run into a box car or truck where the load is lowered and the fork withdrawn. These pallets are expensive, require room and must be returned to the shipper. The present invention is intended to eliminate such pallets as well as to provide other distinct advantages'in the handling of such goods.

Where the invention is employed as a box it is constructed from a blank and the top flaps left open. It can then be filled with loose articles such as grain, pecans, oranges, vegetables and loose goods generally. As the size of such a box increases it becomes more and more important that the weight distribution is even so that the walls may transmit the load and place the top members under stress in tension. 7

Throughout the specification and claims where reference is made to fastening fiapsor panels together it is to be understood that stapling and gluing are intended to be employed interchangeably. In fact both are some times employed as where a section is glued and then stapled to insure that the parts are held in sealing contact until the glue has dried. In general where parts are described as glued together they may be stapled together instead.

In the drawings like numbers refer to like parts throughout.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of wrapper blank.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a package partially wrapped.

Patented Mar. 8, 1955 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a completely wrapped unit package.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of package.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the strapping of Figure Fig. 6 shows a modification of Fig. 1 in which complllementary parts are fastened together to build up a whole s eet.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank showing a modification of the invention to be used as a box.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a box assembled from the blank of Fig. 7.

Blank 10 is preferably made of corrugated kraft board, solid fiber or the like, but may be made of any suitable sheet material including metal sheets, cloth, netting, wirefencing, metal screening or any of the heavy papers. Laminated sheetings may be employed. The prime considerations are the requisite strength and cost.

Blank 10 comprises a central panel 11 with articulate flaps 12 and 13. Central panel 11 is flanked on each side by narrow strips 14 and 15 which combine with panel 11 to form lift fork channel 16 of about two inches in height, more or less. Strips 14 and 15 are provided with articulate flaps 17, 18 and 19, 20 respectively. Flaps 17 through 20 inclusive may be eliminated if desired. Next are main support panels 21 and 22 with articulate flaps 23, 24 and 25, 26 respectively. Side panels 27 and 28 follow with their respective articulate flaps 29, 30- and 31, 32. End panels 33 and 34 are quite wide, equalling thecombined width of panels 11, 14, 21 and 27. Panel 33 has articulate flaps 35 and 36 and panel 34 has flaps 37 and 38. Flaps 35 through 38 inclusive have cutouts 39 in their outer corners, corresponding to channel 16.

In Fig. 2 the blank 10 is shown placed over an assembly timber 40 so as to cause panels 11, 14 and 15 to form channel 16. Cases 41 of canned goods or the like are positioned somewhat as shown and the blank 10 izvrapgaed around them to form the package shown in Flaps 12, 13 and 23 through 26 inclusive may be made long enough to be folded over the top of cases 41 where an especially strong unit subject to repeated handling as for overseas shipment is required. In such case these flaps are longer than adjacent flaps 29 through 32 inclusive. Panel 33 is then folded over the top of cases 41 and extends over the cases above channel 16. Where flaps 12, 13, 23 and 24 are made long enough to fold over the top of cases 41, the panel 33 is glued to such folded over portions. Flap 29 is folded in and glued to flap 23. Flap 30 is folded in and glued to flap 24. In the same manner flaps 31 and 32 are glued to fiaps 25 and 26 respectively. Flap 35 is glued to flaps 12 and 29 and flap 36 is glued to fiaps 13 and 30. It will be noted that flaps 24-, 30 and 36, for example, are'glued together to form a single laminated package wall of great strength.

In the same manner flaps 31 and 32 are glued to flaps 25 and 26 respectively. Flap 37 is glued to flaps 31 and 35 and flap 38 is glued to flaps 32 and 36 respectively. Panel 34 overlaps panel 33 above channel 16 and is glued to the panel. Where flaps 31 and 32 extend over the top of cases 41, panel 34 is also glued to these flaps. Where flaps 17 through 20 are retained they are folded along the bottom of the cases 41. It will be seen that the cutouts 39 frame the channel 16. Timber 40 may then be pushed or pulled out and the arm of a lift fork inserted. The unit package may be hoisted as a whole, run into a truck or box car and deposited in position. The need of wooden pallets is eliminated. These require a space roughly equal to seven percent of the load they support. They are relatively expensive and must be returned to the shipper or a charge is made for them. The present package increases the space efficiency factor of a carrier and is cheaper than present methods. In addition the cases 41 are well protected. Where conditions make it desirable blank 10 may have a tar or latex coating on the inside between laminations. The corrugated member may be dipped or sprayed and the facing sheets of gravity.

applied. This both strengthens thestructure and makes it moisture resistant.

The above description presents one form the invention may take and is intended to be illustrative of one specific structure. It is not intended to be limiting. Other forms may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the form shown in Fig. 4 all the flaps are eliminated. Where desirable steel banding such as shown at 42 may be used. While only one strap is shown several may be applied. A bottom sheet 43 may be glued to panels 21 and 22, but this is usually necessary only in particular cases.

A glue joint between lapped members of corrugated board has great adhesive power and is able to withstand a large stress in shear due to tension loading. Such a condition exists at the top joint 44 in both Figs. 3 and 4. When a lift fork arm in channel 16 acts on panel 11 the cases 41 in the lobes, shown as a dozen on each side, press down on panels 21 and 22 under the action Panels 21 and 22 initially rotate counterclockwise and clockwise respectively until the load is taken up by panels 27, 28 and transferred to panels 33 and 34 which are placed under tension. The joint 44 assumes the load and the stress is distributed over the effective cross-sectional area of panels 33 and 34. A study of the moments around an edge of channel 16 shows that the depth of the unit may be increased with a relatively smaller increase in the stress in panels 33 and 34 because the moment arm of the load remains the same while the effective moment arm of the panels 33 and 34 increases with the increased height of the unit. It follows that as the number of cases 41 is increased they should be placed one above the other rather than spread out laterally.

Timber or block 40 may have the form of a segment .of a circle as shown at 45 in Fig. 2. In this case the panels 14 and 15 are eliminated and the central cases 41 are held in place in part by the panel 11 which is curved upwardly in this construction and in part by the side pressure of other cases 41. Again the cases 41 above panels 21 and 22 may be arranged to support the central cases 41.

Fig. 5 shows another method of strapping to prevent shifting of cases 41. Normally cases 41 can be held in position by stapling or gluing. After the package of Fig. 4 is assembled a straight stapler may be used to anchor the cases 41 to the wrapper portions 21, 22, 27, 33, 34 and 38.

Where gluing is relied upon it is done as the panels are P wrapped around the cases 41. Where it is necessary to withstand rougher treatment straps 45 and 46 may be used as mayalso transverse straps 47 and 48.

The blank of Fig. 1 can be made in two parts as shown in Fig. 6. Blank 50 has an end panel 51 with flaps 52 and 53. Strip 54 has flaps 55 and 56 and joins panel 51 and panel 57. Panel 57 is provided with flaps 58 and 59 and isjoined in sequence to panels 60 and 61 which have flaps 62, 63 and 64, respectively. Flaps 64 and 65 do not have an offset corresponding to 39 as the whole flap is narrower. This saves a cutting operation.

Two blanks 50 are glued and/or stapled together with panels 51 overlapping and the remaining panels extending in opposite directions. This structure is the counterpart of that shown in Fig. l and is used in the same manner. It presents the advantage of a smaller single blank and greater protection at the lifting channel 16.

Fig. 7 shows the invention applied to a blank designed to be folded into box form. Side wall is provided with a top flap 71 and the two bottom flaps 72 and 73. Flap .72 has two integral flap extensions 74 and 75 hinged thereto. A tab 76 is hinged to wall 70 intermediate flaps 72 and 73. End wall 77 is hinged to side wall 70 and has top and bottom flaps 78 and 79. End wall 80 is hinged to the opposite side of wall 70 and has top and bottom flaps 81 and 82. Side wall 83 is hinged to end Wall 80 and arranged to align with the free edge of end wall 77. Wall 83 has a top flap 84, bottom flaps 85 and 86 and a small tab 87 between fiaps 85 and 86. Flap 85 72, 73. 79, 32, 85 and 86. A channel tabs 76 and 87 which are turned in and flaps 74, 75 and 88,? 89. Flaps 74 and 88 form the side walls ofchannel 90 and flaps 75 and 89 form the roof of the channel. The

ends of flaps 75 and 89 are glued or stapled to tabs 76 and 87. Flaps 73, 79 and 85 overlap and are glued or stapled together as are also flaps 72, 82 and 86. The assembled structure is shown in Fig. 8. The flaps may be folded in a different sequence without departing from the spirit of the invention. A corner flap may be added to the free edge of either panel 77 or 83 if greater strength is desired at this butt joint. Such a flap would be fastened to the inside of either panel 83 or 77 in the assembled box.

I claim:

1. A package comprising a plurality of individual cases having substantial weight and bulk, a wrapper member extending around said units and tightly holding them together, said wrapper member including first and second panels separated from one another by a dividing panel and integrally formed therewith, first and second flaps connected to said first and second panels, each of said first and second flaps including partial channel-forming flaps, said partial channel-forming flaps cooperating with one another in the package to produce a single channel along the lower part of said package and integrally formed with said member.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, said wrapper member having overlapping integral upper panels and metal strap means surrounding said package and holding said upper panels tightly together in package forming relation.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, said wrapper member having overlapping integral upper panels and means holding said upper panels tightly together in package forming relation.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, said means holding said overlapping upper panels together comprising adhesive between adjacent surfaces thereof.

5'. A package comprising a plurality of individual cases having substantial weight and bulk, a wrapper member extending around said units and tightly holding them together, said wrapper member including first and second panels separated from one another by a dividing panel, first and second flaps connected to said first and second panels, each of said first and second flaps including auxiliary flaps which are folded, in part, at right angles to said first and second flaps, and folded, in part parallel to said first and second flaps, said right angle-fold portions forming parallel sides of a channel and said parallel-fold portions forming the top of a channel in the package, said channel extending along the bottom of said package and being integrally formed with said wrapper.

6. In combination, a box, comprising first and second panels separated from one another by a dividing panel and integrally formed therewith, first and second flaps connected to said first and second panels, said flaps each including partial channel-forming flaps, portions of said partial channel flaps forming the sides of a channel and other portions the top-of a channel, said channel being recessed from said first and second flaps and integrally formed therewith.

7. In combination, a box comprising first and second panels separated from one another by a dividing panel and integrally formed therewith, first and second flaps connected to said first and second panels, said flaps each including partial channel-forming flaps, said first and second panels also including third flaps connected thereto adjacent said partial channel-forming flaps, said third fiaps covering a portion of each of said partial channelforming flaps, portions of said partial channel fiaps forming the sides of a channel and other portions the top of a channel, said channel being recessed from said first and second flaps and integrally formed therewith.

8. The box claimed in claim 7 in which said third flaps cover portions of 'said channel-forming flaps which form the top of said channel, and means affixing said third flaps to the portions of said channel-forming flaps covered thereby.

9. A unitary corrugated kraft board palette-forming wrapper including first and second panels separated from one another by a dividing panel and integrally formed therewith, first and second flaps connected to each said first and second panels, each of said first and second flaps comprising partial channel-forming flaps, said 'partial channel-forming flaps cooperating with one another to produce palette-channel lift fork receiving means adjacent 893,616, Ferres July 21, 1908 the bottom of a formed wrapper symmetrically positioned 1,330,780 Bonte Feb. 17, 1920 with respect to an axis thereof. 1,720,889 Eshleman July 16, 1929 1,922,560 Sullivan Aug. 15, 1933 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 gl'lohler et a1. Aug. 1;,

, I ewsom an. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,054 Sprolle Nov. 22, 1949 Re. 9,942 Howe Nov. 22, 1881 2,494,730 Thursby Jan. 17, 1950 269,221 Mueller Dec. 19, 1882 2,566,385 Van Patten Sept. 4, 1951 851,097 Kruse Apr. 23, 1907 10 l l v 

